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| United States Patent |
6,106,243
|
|
Popov
|
August 22, 2000
|
Jet pump installation for creating a vacuum during distillation of a
liquid
Abstract
The invention relates to the field of petrochemical industry. The essence
of the invention: is a vacuum-producing device, comprising a liquid-gas
jet apparatus, a separator and a pump, is furnished with a mixer. The gas
inlet of the liquid-gas jet apparatus is connected to the pipeline for
export of a gas-vapor phase from a rectification column, the liquid inlet
of the liquid-gas jet apparatus is connected to the discharge side of the
pump, the outlet of the liquid-gas jet apparatus is connected to the
separator, the gas outlet of the separator is connected to consumers of
compressed gas, the outlet of the mixer is connected to the suction side
of the pump, the inlet of the mixer is connected both to the pipeline for
export of a liquid faction from the rectification column and to the liquid
outlet of the separator. The offered jet pump vacuum-producing unit is
more effective, more capable and less harmful to the environment in
comparison to existing units.
| Inventors:
|
Popov; Serguei A. (4615 Post Oak Pl., Suite 140, Houston, TX 77027)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
180844 |
| Filed:
|
November 17, 1998 |
| PCT Filed:
|
March 18, 1998
|
| PCT NO:
|
PCT/RU98/00078
|
| 371 Date:
|
November 17, 1998
|
| 102(e) Date:
|
November 17, 1998
|
| PCT PUB.NO.:
|
WO98/41764 |
| PCT PUB. Date:
|
September 24, 1998 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
417/313; 95/176; 95/177; 417/76 |
| Intern'l Class: |
F04B 023/00 |
| Field of Search: |
417/313,76
95/176,177
96/194,181
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
| 2680709 | Jun., 1954 | Skinner | 202/204.
|
| 3796640 | Mar., 1974 | Boomer | 417/313.
|
| 4542196 | Sep., 1985 | Morris et al. | 526/64.
|
| 4855524 | Aug., 1989 | Harandi et al. | 585/517.
|
| 5015359 | May., 1991 | Harandi et al. | 208/58.
|
| 5214157 | May., 1993 | Healy et al. | 549/250.
|
| 5327735 | Jul., 1994 | Hatton | 62/292.
|
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 1050498 | Aug., 1959 | DE.
| |
| 2048156 | Nov., 1995 | RU.
| |
| 2094070 | Oct., 1997 | RU.
| |
| 559098 | Jul., 1977 | SU.
| |
| 1733714 | May., 1992 | SU.
| |
Primary Examiner: Freay; Charles G.
Assistant Examiner: Evora; Robert Z.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Oathout; Mark A.
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a 371 of PCT/RU98/00078 file on Mar. 18, 1998.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A jet pump vacuum-producing unit for distillation of a liquid product,
comprising:
a vacuum rectification column having a first pipeline for feed of a stock
product, a second pipeline for export of a gas-vapor phase and a third
pipeline for export of at least one liquid fraction; and
a vacuum-producing device comprising a liquid-gas jet apparatus, a
separator and a pump, wherein the vacuum-producing device further includes
a mixer, wherein a gas inlet of the liquid-gas jet apparatus is connected
to the second pipeline, a liquid inlet of the liquid-gas jet apparatus is
connected to a discharge side of the pump, an outlet of the liquid-gas jet
apparatus is connected to the separator, a gas outlet of the separator is
connected to consumers of compressed gas, an outlet of said mixer is
connected to a suction side of the pump, and said mixer has at least one
inlet connected to the third pipeline and to a liquid outlet of the
separator.
2. The jet pump unit according to claim 1, further including a hydro lock,
placed between the outlet of the liquid-gas jet apparatus and the inlet of
the separator.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the field of oil processing and the petrochemical
industry, mainly to installations for vacuum distillation of liquids, such
as crude oil for example. It can be used particularly for the
rectification of oil stock.
A vacuum-producing unit for crude oil rectification is known, wherein a
water steam ejector provides a vacuum in a rectification column (see U.S.
Pat. No. 2,680,709, cl. 202-204, 1954).
During operation of this unit vapors of a liquid product mix with the
motive water steam. As a result, water condensate with emulsified
impurities of oil derivatives is generated. Purification of such waste
water from detrimental oil emulsions is a complex technical problem
causing significant expenses.
RU patent No. 2048156 (M cl. B 01 D 3/10, 1995) discloses a vacuum unit for
the distillation of liquids, which has been chosen by the present
inventors as the prototype for the invention. The unit comprises a vacuum
rectification column and a vacuum-producing device. The rectification
column has a pipeline for feed of a stock product and pipelines for export
of a gas-vapor phase and a liquid fraction. The vacuum-producing device is
composed of a liquid-gas jet apparatus, a separator and a pump.
In operation of this unit evacuation of the gas-vapor phase from the
rectification column is effected by the liquid-gas jet apparatus, which
uses the liquid fraction exported from the column as a motive medium. Use
of such unit substantially reduces the discharge of waste water with
ecologically harmful impurities.
However, the prototype unit has a low efficiency due to the contamination
of the motive liquid by oil derivatives and due to the absence of makeup
supply of the motive liquid during operation of the vacuum-producing
device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is aimed at a rise in efficiency and productivity of
the jet pump vacuum unit by providing optimum conditions for makeup supply
of the motive liquid to the vacuum-producing device.
The recited problem is solved as follows. A vacuum-producing unit for
distillation of a liquid product, comprising a vacuum rectification column
with pipelines for feed of a stock product and for export of a gas-vapor
phase and at least one liquid fraction, and a vacuum-producing device
composed of a liquid-gas jet apparatus, a separator and a pump, is
furnished with a mixer. The mixer is a part of the vacuum-producing
device, so that the gas the inlet of the liquid-gas jet apparatus is
connected to the pipeline for export of a gas-vapor phase, the liquid
inlet of the liquid-gas jet apparatus is connected to the discharge side
of the pump, the outlet of the liquid-gas jet apparatus is connected to
the separator, the gas outlet of the separator is connected to consumers
of compressed gas, the outlet of the mixer is connected to the suction
side of the pump, the inlet of the mixer is connected both to the pipeline
for export of a liquid fraction from the rectification column and to the
liquid outlet of the separator.
The location of the mixer at the liquid outlet of the separator and porting
of the mixer to the pipeline for export of a liquid fraction from the
column allow adjustable and controllable mixing of the motive liquid with
the liquid fraction from the rectification column. It follows that, the
relative position of the mixer in the vacuum-producing device has great
importance.
It is expedient to place the mixer near to the liquid outlet of the
separator. Delivery of the liquid fraction from the rectification column
into the mixer is also preferable in order to provide a makeup of the
motive liquid of the vacuum-producing device. This allows not only
refreshing of the motive liquid, but also more intensive condensation of
easy-condensable components of the gas-vapor phase in the liquid-gas jet
apparatus. Besides, feed of the liquid fraction into the vacuum-producing
device through the mixer reduces hydraulic losses during mixing of the
liquid fraction with the motive liquid, and, as a result, allows more
effective utilization of the motive liquid energy for compression of
non-condensable components of the gas-vapor phase. Therefore compressed
gas is delivered from the separator to consumers under higher pressure,
while power consumption of the vacuum-producing device remains the same.
Additionally, availability of a hydro lock installed between the jet
apparatus and the separator is expedient for extension of the operating
pressure ranges of the jet apparatus and the separator. The hydro lock
makes the jet apparatus and the separator hydraulically isolated and
ensures an increased operational reliability and stability of the
vacuum-producing device. Necessity in the hydro lock is explained by the
fact that in a number of cases it is required to keep a decreased pressure
in the separator in order to intensify gas separation. However, the
decreased pressure in the separator results in unstable operation of the
jet apparatus due to the disturbance of a hydrodynamic balance between the
two units. This misbalance worsens the condensation of easy-condensable
components in the motive liquid and should be avoided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The drawing in FIG. 1 represents a schematic diagram of the described
vacuum unit for distillation of a liquid product.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The jet pump vacuum-producing unit for distillation of a liquid product
comprises a vacuum rectification column 1 and a vacuum-producing device,
composed of a liquid-gas jet apparatus 5, a separator 6 and a pump 7. The
column 1 has a pipeline 2 for feed of a stock product, a pipeline 3 for
export of a gas-vapor phase and a pipeline 4 for export of a liquid
fraction. The vacuum-producing device is furnished with a mixer 8. The gas
inlet 5a of the liquid-gas jet apparatus 5 is connected to the pipeline 3
for export of a gas-vapor phase, the liquid inlet 5b of the liquid-gas jet
apparatus 5 is connected to the discharge side 7a of the pump 7 and the
outlet 5c of the liquid-gas jet apparatus 5 is connected to the separator
6. The gas outlet 6a of the separator 6 is connected to consumers of
compressed gas. The outlet 8a of the mixer 8 is connected to the suction
side of 7b the pump 7. The inlet 8b of the mixer 8 is connected both to
the pipeline 4 for export of a liquid fraction from the rectification
column 1 and to the liquid outlet 66 of the separator 6.
The jet pump unit can be furnished with a hydro lock 9, placed between the
outlet of the jet apparatus 5 and the separator 6. The separator 6 has a
pipeline 10 for discharge of any surplus amount of the motive liquid.
The jet pump vacuum-producing unit operates as follows.
A stock product is fed through the pipeline 2 into the vacuum rectification
column 1, where said product is cut into a gas-vapor phase and at least
one liquid fraction. The gas-vapor phase is evacuated from the column 1
through the pipeline 3 by the liquid-gas jet apparatus 5. The liquid
fraction is exported from the column 1 through the pipeline 4. The motive
liquid from the mixer 8 is delivered by the pump 7 into the active nozzle
of the liquid-gas jet apparatus 5. Evacuation of the gas-vapor phase
through the pipeline 3 occurs during outflow of the motive liquid from the
nozzle of the jet apparatus 5. Thus a vacuum in the column 1 is induced.
Partial condensation of easycondensable components of the gas-vapor phase
and compression of its noncondensable gaseous components occur in the jet
apparatus 5 while mixing of the motive liquid with the evacuated gas-vapor
phase. The gas-liquid mixture passes from the jet apparatus 5 into the
separator 6, where the liquid medium, constituting a mixture of the motive
liquid and condensed components of the gas-vapor phase, is separated from
the compressed gaseous medium, representing the non-condensable components
of the gas-vapor phase compressed in the jet apparatus 5. A part of the
motive liquid is discharged from the separator 6 to consumers through the
pipeline 10. The other part of the motive liquid flows to the inlet 8b of
the mixer 8. Simultaneously, the liquid fraction exported from the
rectification column 1 is delivered to the inlet 8b of the mixer 8 through
the pipeline 4. An adjustable and controllable process of mixing of the
motive liquid from the separator 6 and the liquid fraction delivered
through the pipeline 4 is ensured in the mixer 8. This allows feeding of
the pump 7 by a homogeneous mixture of the above stated mediums formed
with minimum hydraulic losses. The location of the mixer 8 between the
separator 6 and the suction port 7b of the pump 7 provides delivery of the
degassed motive liquid from the separator 6 into the mixer. This provides
feed of the nozzle of the jet apparatus 5 by the motive liquid containing
a minimum possible amount of dissolved easy-soluble gases. As far as the
liquid fraction from the column 1 is used for makeup of the motive liquid,
the surplus amount of the motive liquid (equivalent to the amount of
liquid fraction intake) is discharged from the separator 6 through the
pipeline 10 for further processing.
In some cases (for example, in case of pressure fluctuations in the
separator 6 or in case of relatively low or relatively high pressure in
the separator), availability of a hydro lock 9 between the jet apparatus 5
and the separator 6 is expedient. This measure enables one to produce a
vacuum in the rectification column 1 without disturbance of operation of
the jet pump unit.
The present invention can be used in technological processes or in
industries, where vacuum distillation of a stock liquid product is
required.
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